"Sharp, quirky, and occasionally nettlesome", Walking the Berkshires is my personal blog, an eclectic weaving of human narrative, natural history, and other personal passions with the Berkshire and Litchfield Hills as both its backdrop and point of departure. I am interested in how land and people, past and present manifest in the broader landscape and social fabric of our communities. The opinions I express here are mine alone. Never had ads, never will.

December 31, 2006

"Hope and Optimism in Spite of the Present Difficulties"

The title of this post is from a woodcut by John Muafangejo, a Namibian who was one of the great artists in this medium. We are very fortunate to have an original print of another of his works in our home, a treasure from our years in southern Africa. It would be well worth checking him out if you are unfamiliar with his work.

Here on the cusp of the New year, I shall resist passing somber judgments on the one that has passed or making predictions about the one that arrives tomorrow. Instead, a few of the many things to which I'm looking forward, in no particular order:

Raising a glass to toast a decade of ≠Khoadi //Hôas Conservancy and our friends in Northwest Namibia who have made it such a success. 1997 was indeed the "year of action", and Viv and I are grateful to have been part of it. Wish we could celebrate with you in person. Maybe on the 15th.

A Northeast US tour by Richard Thompson. Preferably at the Iron Horse or the Egg. Somewhere close enough for us to get a sitter.

Gorgeous places to kayak. My parents bring theirs to the Island every year. No better way to see marine mammals in their element - although hard to maintain the required 500 ft. distance when a whale surfaces unexpectedly alongside!